Telephone-exchange system.



M. L. JOHNSON.

TELEPHONE EXGHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1912.

1,1 16,540. Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

WITNE INVENTOR MORTON L I (JOHNSON AT T 0 RNEY M. L. JOHNSON.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 19121 KNVENTOR WITN MORTON L KJDHNSON HY (7 I M. L. JOHNSON. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1912 Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

3 SHEBTSSHEBT 3.

FIG. 3

INVENTUR. MORTON L .Jonusou BY ATTORNEY UNITED sTAirns rATENT OFFICE.

MORTON In. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO FRANK B. COOK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TELEIHONE-EXCIHANG-E SYSTEM.

Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

To all whomit may concern Be it known that I, MORTON L. Jonwsox', citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago. in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Telephone-Exchange Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying dran ings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to telephone exchange systems employing operators for receiving calls and other operators for extending calling lines.

111 practising my invention, the receiving operators have equipment whereby talking devices that are adapted to announce the designations of desired extensions of calling lines may be associated with the telephone lines that extend between the two classes of operators whereby the telephone line extending or switching operators are automatically supplied with the necessary information.

As I'have embodied my invention the extensions of the calling lines whose designations are to be announced are subscribers lines though it is obvious that the invention is not to be limited to this characteristic. Where the designations are numerical there are preferably ten talking devices adapted respectively to speak the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 T, 8, 9 and the character 0, each talking device preferably speaking the name of but one digit in the character. If the desired line is, for example, numbered 91, the talking device that speaks the digit nine and the talking device that speaks the digit one are, in the order named, successively brought into association with the telephone line extending between the two operators that are employed in establishing the connection whereby the final or trunk operator is automatically informed of the number of the desired line, the receiving operator, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, not being required to speak the number, the receiving operator being relieved of this duty owing to the preferred form of talking device which I employ though I do not wish to be limited to this characteristic of the invention. When the connecting or trunk operator,. tl1e' final operator, responds to the instructions thus automatically conveyed to her she dissociates the employed talking device or devices from the inter operator telephone line. The telephonelincs that extend between the operators are desirably the same trunk lines which are em ployed in connecting calling and called lines though obviously the invention is not to be limited to this double use of such trunk lines.

in a connection which is being established the talking device or apparatus is coupled with the link or trunk line that is being handled by the second or connecting operator so that when this operator hears the record that informs her of the number of the desired line she will employ the link coupled with the talking device and effect its connection with the desired line so that she need not be informed by the first or receiving operator either of the number of the calling line or the number of the link to be employed. The link connectors desirably convey the recorded speech but the invention is not to be limited to this manner of coupling the talking equipment and link connectors. This feature of the invention is broadly claimed irrespective of the nature of the talking equipment and the place at which the talking equipment is prepared to speak the designations of the wanted lines.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the-accompanying drawings showing one embodiment thereof to which the invention obviously is not to be limited and in which drawings Figures 1. 2 and 3, taken collectively in numerical order, represent a telephone exchange system equipped in accordance with the invention, and Fig. 4 is a detail of a mechanical structure that may enter into some of the equipment.

In the drawings I have shown my invention as being embodied in a system coming within the scope of the application of Elmer R. Corwin, Serial No. 503,345, filed June 21, 1909, though of course the invention is not to be restricted to such a system.

I have illustrated two subscribers stations ninnbered for the sake of illustration as A. and C) each having well known equipment that includes a telephone receiver switch hook 1 that engages a normal contact when supporting the associate telephone receiver 2 for the purpose of including a signal hell 3 and a condenser 4 in bridge of the associate telephone line, each switch hook having an alternate contact engaged thereby when free of the telephone receiver to establish a metallic bridge between the sides of the associate line through the telephone receiver and transmitter 5.

When a subscriber, say at station A, desires communication with another subscriber, say station C the calling subscriber will remove his telephone receiver from its switch hook and metallically connect the line sides at his station whereby a circuit is established which may be traced from the upper grounded coil of the line relay 6, the upper intermediate armature switch of the switching relay 7 and its normal contact, the upper armature switch of the cutoff relay 8 and its normal contact, one side of the calling line, the telephone bridge of the calling line, the other side of the calling line, the lower armature switch cutoff relay 8 and its normal contact, the lower intermediate armature switch of relay 7 and its normal contact, the lower coil of the relay 6 to the grounded battery 9. The armature switches of relay 6 are now attracted. A circuit is established which may be traced from the lower grounded armature switch of relay 6 and its alternate contact, the sluggishly operating interrupter relay 10, the motor magnet 11, the sidcg switch wiper 12 in its first position, to the f erator of the number or designation 0 E desired line.

14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 18 around until the f wiper 15 encounters an ungrounded waiting l stations, then the switching devices which grounded common battery 9. The motor magnet 11 thereupon steps the wipers 13,

contact whereupon the private relay 19 (which was previously included in circuit upon the initial operation of the motor magin fact. is the invention to be restricted to systems which employ selector switches.

When the wipers of the selector switch actuated by a calling subscriber have been brought to rest with the wiper 15 in engagement with an ungrounded waiting contact, the calling line is automatically extended into connection with telephone conductors leading to a telephone outfit at the position of an idle operator, it being understood that the telephone conductors leading from several operators positions are provided with multiply related terminals that are distributed among the selector switches whereby calling subscribers may automatically select the telephone conductors leading to idle operators. The selector switches may therefore be termed operator selector switches. Thewipers 13 and 14 of the actuated operator selector switch are shown as being ones that are serially included in the telephonic circuit extending between the calling subscriber and the operators telephone equipment 21, which equipment was selected because it was free for selection, and which cannot be selected while still in connection with the calling subscribers line owing to a grounding of the contact then engaged by the wiper 15 of the employed selector switch. The calling party now informs the receivingf 01p- Assuming, as the drawings show, that the stations to be connected are subscribers the operator employs are provided with numerical designations to guide the opernet 11) is deenergized to cause the side switch wipers 12 and 20 to be moved to their sec- I switch such as is illustrated at A, and which 0nd positions, the wiper 12 in its second position opening the circuit of the motor magnet 11 to arrest the wipers 13 to 18 inclusive. hen the wiper 20' is in its second position it engages a grounded contact to ground the wiper 15 and the contact then engaged thereby and the other contacts of the other switches in multiple with the contact then engaged by the wiper 15 so that the .wipers of other switches cannot stop with the wipers 15 thereof in engagement with the contacts in multiple with the grounded wiper 15 whereby other calling lines cannot become electrically connected or associated with those waiting contacts which have been appropriated by the wipers of a switch of a calling line, it being understood that the waiting contacts of each of the wipers 13 to 18 inclusive, are in multiple connection with the waiting contacts 1 o J s m lar wipersof other selector switches, 1n the system illustrated. In the system 1 illustrated the selector switches are shown I as being individual to the lines thou h the invention is not to be"thus restricte n'or', {third vertical row E serving to associate ators. As the system is illustrated, each telephone line is provided with a selector becomes connected with the, calling line in a later stage of the process of connecting calling and called lines. This selector switch A is employed for selecting an idle manually controlled plug ended link connector B to which the invention is not to be limited The receiving operators are, in the present case, each individually provided with a plurality of sets of switching devices, each set comprising three groups of buttons arranged, as illustrated, in three vertical rows, ten buttons to a row, the buttons in each row being numbered, consecutively from the top down, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0. The buttons in the first vertical row C (reading rom the left to the right) are employed for selecting an idle link connecto B in the group of such connectors extending to the trunk operator having access to the line desired by the calling party.

The buttons in the second vertical row D are for associating any of the talking devices with the trunk lines, the buttons in the any of the talking devices with the trunk lines successively to the talking devices associated with the trunk lines by the buttons in the row I), there being as many of these rows as the capacity and nature of the system requires, a limited number of rows l), E being illustrated for the sake of simplicity, the assumption being that each switch A is adapted to have its wipers placed in ten dillerent levels having ten sets of waiting contacts per level, these waiting contacts constituting terminals of link connectors, the waiting contacts in each level belonging to link connectors extending to a particular operators position or a plurality of such positions at a. given board, or all of the link connectors extending from all of the waiting contacts of the diflerent levels, though the link connectors may be otherwise appor tioned for differing systems. Assuming that the levels of waiting contacts of the selector switches A belong to link connectors extending to dillerent exchanges or groups of lines, the operator will depress one of the buttons in the row C that will bring the wipers ot the selector switch A to the level of waitingcontacts from which trunk lines extend to the desired exchange. Assuming that station C is the desired line in the desired exchange and that the link connectors extending from this exchange to the selector switches A have waiting contacts in the third levels of such switches, the operator will depress the third button from the top in row C, the third button from the top in the second vertical row D, and the fourth button from the top in the third vertical row E, the buttons in each row being numbered from the top to the bottom successively whereafter the operator will depress the starting key 22, the previously depressed buttons remaining depressed (though the key 22 is released immediately after its operation) for a sufficient period of time to permit the trunk operator to establish'the connection. Fig. 4; shows three adjacent keys in one row, C, D or E, one key being in a depressed position, the arrangement being such that when another key ,in the same row is depressed the previously depressed key is restored by the shifting of the bar a,

this mechanical construction being commonly known in the art. Each row of keys is provided with the equipment illustrated in Fig. 4. After the desired buttons in the rows C, D, E have been depressed the starting key 22 is depressed, a circuit being there by established through the relay 23, this re lay 23 establishing a locking circuit through itself in order that key 22 may be released, which locking circuit includes the winding of relay 23, its right hand armature switch, the left hand armature switch of relay 24:, the wiper 15, side switch wiper20 in second position, to ground. The left hand armature.

switch of relay 23 is attracted to establish a circuit fraction which may be traced from the grounded common battery 9 through this left hand armature switch and its contact, the winding of a relay 25, the left hand armature switch of such relay, the normal follow up contact of such armature switch to the starting brush 26. The brush 26 is electrically connected with a disk 27 once in each revolution of such disk, this disk having a finger 28 adapted for contact with the brush 26 oflimited duration. The disk2l' is grounded and may occupy approximately a, second of time for a single revolution, the disk being mounted upon a shaft 29 that is constantly driven by a motor 30, there being speed reduction gearing 31 interposed between the motor and the shaft. When the brush 26 is grounded upon engagement of the finger 28 circuit for the relay 25 which was partially traced is completed whereupon the left hand armature switch of such relay engages its alternate grounded contact to lock the circuit for the relay when the finger 28 has passed out of engagement with the brush 26. The intermediate armature switch of the now energized relay 25 establishes a circuit which may be traced from its grounded contact, through said armature switch, the right hand armature switch of relay 32,-the winding of relay 33, to the grounded battery 9. The left hand armature switch of the now energized relay 33 completes the circuit previously partially established by the selected, third, button from the top of the left hand vertical row of switching buttons. This circuit may be traced from the disk 34 which has three fingers 35 and which disk is grounded, the brush 36 when engaging a finger 35, the depressed key in row C, the left hand armature switch of relay 33, the relay 37, to the grounded battery 9. .The relay 3''? is thus energized three times for the purpose of raising the wipers of switch A to their proper letel. The upper armature switch oi. relay 3? is thus caused to leave its contact three times. The relay 37 is employed for the purpose of restoring the operators equipment to normal as will later appear. The circuit that includes the upper armature switch of relay 3'? also includes the two intermediate armature switches of relay 39, this relay 39 having been included in circuit when the side switch wiper 12 was put into second position.

lhe wipers of the employed selector switch A havingbeen raised to their proper level, are stepped around by the rotary magnet 85 until the wiper 78 engages an un grounded waiting contact whereupon the private magnet 89, whose circuit was established upon initial operation of the rotary magnet, is denergized, this private magnetthereupon moving the side switch wipers 77, 77 and 87 to their third positions, these wipers having been brought to their second positions by the private magnet 89 when sluggishly operating private control relay 90 in series with the vertical magnet 86 is deenergized, a resultoccurring when the wipers of the switch A have been brought to their proper level.

When the side switch wiper 87 is in its second position it establishes a circuit for the rotary magnet 85 and when it is in its third position it opens the circuit for the rotary magnet 85 to arrest the travel of the wipers and closes circuit through the switching relay 88, circuit being traceable from the upper grounded armature switch of the sluggishly operating relay 91 (circuit through which relay 91 was established upon the initial energization of relay 38, the armature switches of relay 91 remaining attracted during the vibration of the armature of re lay 38) the winding of relay 88, the side switch wiper 87 in its third position, to the grounded battery 9. When the relay 88 is energized, the circuitfor relay -38 is opened so that the circuit for relay 91 is consequently open. The ground previously established by the upper armature switch of relay 91 is now replaced by the ground established by the left hand armature switch of relay 92, the circuit of the relay 92 being established by the left hand armature switch of relay 93, the circuit-of this relay 93 being traceable from its grounded coil through the upper armature switch of relay 94 and its normal contact, the traveling wiper 95 of switch A, the upper armature switch of relay 88 and its alternate contact the upper intermediate armature switch of relay 39, the wiper 17 of the operator selector switch belonging to the calling line A, the upper armature switch of relay 37 and its contact, the polarized relay 37 the wiper l8 and its engaged waiting contact, the lower intermediate armature switch of relay 39;t-he intermediate armature switch of relay 88 and its alternate contact, the traveling wiper 96 of the selector switch A, the lower armature switch of'relay 94 and its normal contact, the remaining winding of relay 93, to the grounded battery 9. An idle link connector B having been selected,'circuit for a signal 97,1 located within view of the attending trunk operator and individual to the selected link connector, is established, this circuit being traceable from the grounded battery 9 through the intermediate armature switch of relay 93, the signal 97, the intermediate armature-switch of relay 98 audits normal contact to ground.

en the wiper 78 and its associates are raised to their proper level, and before or during their travel in this level, the finger 47 upon disk48 engages the brush 49. befiore the shaft 29 has made a completerevolutiom Owing to the engagement oi the elements 47 and 49 circuit is established for the relay 32, which circuit includes the grounded disk 48, the finger 47, the brush 49, the left hand armature switch of relay 32 and its normal follow-up contact, the winding of relay 32, the right handarmature switch of relay 25 and the grounded battery 9. The relay 32 establishes a locking circuit for itself which is traceable from the grounded alternate contact of the left hand armature switch, said armature switch, said relay 32, the right hand armature switch of relay 25, to the grounded battery. When the relay 32 is energized circuit for relay 33 is broken at the right hand armature switch of relay 32. Circuit for the relay 37 is now opened at the left handarmature switch of relay 33, the relays 38 and 93 then being no longer subject to, the control of relay 37 Sluggishly operating relay 5O companion torelay 33 was energized upon the energization of relay 33 by way of the alternate contact of the right hand grounded armature switch of relay 33. When the relay 33 is denergized, as has been described, the still retained armature switch of relay 50 and the released right hand armature switch of relay 33 establish a circuit for the relay 24. When relay 24: is operated its left hand armature switch establishes a locking circuit for the relay 24 which is traceable from the grounded battery 9, the winding of relay 24, the left hand armature switch of this relay and its alternate contact, the wiper 15 and its engaged waiting contact, the side switch wiper 20 in its second position, to the grounded waiting contact previously engaged by the wiper 20. The energized relay 24 opens circuit, at its left hand armature switch, for the relay 23 to restore this relay 23: to normal, the relays 25 and 32- being consequently restored to normal. The intermediate armature switches of relay 24, that are serially related to the selected telephone 21, are now moved to disconnect the selected telephone 21 from circuit with the calling line.

Where a plurality of sets of keys, each set including a number of rows C, D, E, is employed a signal 99 is made individual to ea'chof suclr sets and is governed by the associate relay 24, there being one relay- 24 individual to each of such sets. When a set of such keys (1,1), E is selectively associated energized, the wiper 15, the. side switchwiper 20: in its second position, and. the grounded button-then engaged by the wiper w2th the re'lay24 is energized as has" just been described the circuit for the signal device 99 associatedtherewith is opened at the right hand armature switch of relay 2%.

The operator selector switch is not yet restored to normal but when it does later become restored to normal its wiper 15 removes the ground from the left hand armature switch of relay 24: to open the circuit of relay Ql and restore such relay to normal, the signal99 being prevented from reinclusion in circuit owing to the gap established at the Wiper 15' when restored to normal. In: this way all the equipment in association with the row of buttons C is restored to normal. lt has been described how the disk 34 with its three fingers 35 serves to step the wipers oi the link selector A to the third level. The disk next to theleft of disk 34, having but two contact fingers, will serve to bring these wipers to their second level and the next disk upon the left will serve to bring these wipers to their first level. The seven disks located in immediate succession upon the right of the disk 34 will serve, respectively, to bring these wipers to fourth level, fifth level, sixth level, seventh level, eighth" level, ninth level and tenth level.

The signal 97 having been displayed, as previously described, the trunk operator manipulates her kev r to bridge her telephone set f across the sides 9 it of the se lected trunk line. The buttons in the rows D, E corresponding to the digit three and the digit tour of the called subscribers numberh'aving been depressed previously to the operation of the starting key 22, the trunk operator, having depressed her key 6, is informed by the talking devices which the receiving operator has associated with the trunk line of the number of the desired line, C. When the key e is depressed circuit is established for the relay 2' that includes a grounded battery 9', said relay 2', the side switch wiper 77 of the employed selector switch ill, the wiper 96 of this switch A and the twolower contacts of the switch 6, the bottom one of which isgrounded. When relay ii is energized a circuit is established which is traceable from its left hand grounded armature switch, the lowermost armature switch of relay 39, the wiper 18 and its then engaged waiting contact, the relay it, to the grounded battery 9. When the relay ll; is energized a circuit is established that includes the grounded battery 9, the armature switch of relay l, the armature switch o'l relay Z: and its then engaged contact, relay 51, its left hand armature switch and the normal follow-up" contact thereof, the brush 26, the finger 28 when engaging the brush 26, and the grounded disk 27. When the relay 51 is energized it establishes a circuit tor relay 53'. that is traceable from the right hand armature switch of relay 51 and its grounded contact, the right hand armature switch of relay 52, the winding of relay 53, to the grounded battery 9. A single primary coil 40 in conjunction with a secondary coil 40 serves telephonically to asociate the talking devices with the calling line and the link extension thereof, the secondary 40 being connected in bridge of the conductors leading to the wipers l3 and 14 by way of the waiting contacts then engaged by said wipers. The telephonic relation of the talking devices with the calling line extension B is not however completely established until the relay 2' is energized where upon the right hand armature switches of this relay serve to bring the secondary coil r0 into parallel with the telephone equipment f at the link connector B,

in my co-pending application Serial No. 709,427, filed July 15, 1912,]j have disclosed a secondary such as 40 for associating the talking devices with the calling line so'that the calling party would have the number of the desired line automaticall conveyed to him, and certain claims re a'ting to this characteristic of the system are included in my said co-pending application. When relay 53 is energized circuit for the rimary 40 is established which is traceable rom the primary, which is grounded, the left hand armature switch of relay 53, the'button in the row D that has been depressed (in this instance the third button from the top) to the particular secondary coil 41 that is brought into association with the primary 40 by the depressed button. Each of the buttonsof the two rows D E is associated with a secondarv coil 41 and each secondary coil 41 is individual to a talking device, the diilerent individual talking devices being capable of speaking, in the system under discussion, each a diiierent digit 1 to 9,111- clusive, and the characterO. The first talking device, reading from thelefhspeaks-the digit 1, the next the digit 2, the next (the one corresponding to the third and depressed button from the top of row D) the digit 3, the next (corresponding to the fourth button from the top of row E which has been depressed) the digit 4 and so on.

Each talking device includes a record 42 for reproducing the name of the digit the talking device is to speak. A needle 43 is provided for each record and which serves to convey the sound to the phonograph horn 44:. Each phonograph horn 4a faces atrans- Initter 4-51 included in a local circuit in primary relation to the associate secondary coil l1. lt will be understood that the talking devices are common to the two rows of ke s D, E, and that two similarlylnumbered keys in the rows D, E, may be depressed to bring the same talking device successively twice into telephonicrelation with the seclac ondary coil 41 which is brought into connection with the primary 40 by the depresed similar keys in the rows D, E. After the first digit has been spoken and before the shaft 29 has completed a revolution the grounded disk 48 is brought into a circuit that includes this disk, the finger 47 thereof, the brush 49, the sluggishly operating relay 110, the left hand armature switch of relay 52 and its normal contact, the intermediate armature switch of relay 51, and the grounded battery 9. The relay 52 establishes a locking circuit for itself that is traceable from the alternate contact of its left hand armature switch grounded through resistance, said armature switch, the winding of relay 52, the intermediate armature switch of relay 51, to the grounded battery 9. Circuit for relay 53 is now opened at the right hand armature switch of relay 52, the circuit for the primary coil 10, and the first secondary coil 11 torbe included in circuit for announcing the first digit, being consequently open. The primary coil 40, assuming that the called line has two digits as in the example chosen, is now established through the next secondary coil 41 which is employed to announce the second digit by reason of the circuit established by the released right hand armature switch of relay 53 and the still attracted armature switch of the sluggishly operating relay 63 whose circuit was previously established upon the energization of the relay 53. The circuit established by these two armature switches of relays 53 and 63 includes the normal followup contact of the left hand armature switch of relay 6 1, the armature switch of relay is, the armature switch of relay Z, and the grounded ba tery 9. The relay 64 establishes a locking circuit for itself that is traceable from the grounded alternate contact of its left hand armature switch, said armature switch, the relay 64:, the armature switch of relay is, and the armature switch of relay Z to the grounded battery 9. The right hand armature switch of relay 6 1 now establishes a circuit that includes its grounded contact, the right hand armature switch of relay 65, the relay 66, and the grounded battery 9. The left hand armature switch of relay 66 establishes the connection of the primary -10 and the second secondary coil tl that is employed to speak the second digit, in this instance the digit 4, the circuit including the primary 40, the left hand armature switch of relay 66, the contacts of the fourth button from the top of the row E, and the associate secondary grounded coil 41.' Just before the shaft 29 finishes the revolution that caused the operation of the phonograph second to be employed, the grounded disk 18 is included in a circuit which may be traced from this disk through the finger 47 thereof, the brush 49, the contacts of the sluggishly operating relay 110, the left hand armature switch of relay 65, and its normal followup contact, the intermediate armature switch of relay 64 to the grounded battery 9 Relay 65 establishes a locking circuit for itself which is traceable from the grounded alternate contact of the left hand armature switch of relay 65, the winding of the relay, the intermediate armature switch of relay 6-1, to the grounded battery 9. When the right hand armature switch of the relay 65 is attracted it opens the circuit for the relay 66, the second circuit for the primary 40 being now opened at the left hand armature switch of this relay 66. When the relay 66 was energized circuit for the sluggishly operating relay 76 was established thereby. When relay 66 is de'elnergized, circuit for the'magnet Z is established owing to the cooperation of the still attracted armature switch of relay 7 6 and the normally positioned right hand armature switch of relay 66. Relay Z is now energized during the brief remaining interval of the attraction of the armature switch of relay 7 6 to open the circuit of the relays 51 and 64 which in turn open the circuits of relays 52 and 65, these latter four relays being restored to normal. If the button 0 at the selected link B still remains depressed the two digits will be again spoken by the phonographs that are successively telephonically related with the selected link connector by way of the primary 10, a result which is due to the continued energization of the magnet is and the de'e'nergization of the magnet Z all as will be understood from previous description. If the operator at B has heard the number of the desired line to her satisfaction she may release the key 6 so as to sepa rate the bottom contacts and thereby open the circuit for the magnet k so as to prevent the operation of the relays 51 and 64. Having learned the desired number the operator may test with the plug m in the usual way and if the line desired is idle the operator will plug into a multiple jack of the desired line and will signal the desired station, all as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. I do not wish to limit myself to the use of a connecting plug however for completing the final stage in the connection between calling and called lines.

hen the connecting plug m has been inserted into the jack of the desired line cir cuit is established through the relay 98 and the cutoff relay 8 of the desired line, this circuit being traceable from the grounded battery 9, the cutoff relay 8 of the desired line, the sleeve of the multiple jack that receives the plug m the heel of said plug, the relay 98, to ground. The two uppermost armature switches of relay 98 are attracted to close gaps in the talking sides of the selected trunk and to open the circuit of the test relay the two lower armature switches are attracted, to efiace the signal 97 and to close a gap in the circuit of the supervisory signals 97 and 97 The intermediate armature switch of relay 98 also establishes a circuit for the relay 9% to reverse the connections of the relay 93 with the talking sides of the trunk line and thereby the connections of the battery 9 with the talking sides of the trunk line, the flow of current through the polarized relay 37 being now reversed to bring the armature of this polarized relay into circuit with the battery 9, the wiper 16, the upper armature switch of relay 39, the winding of relay 7, the side switch wiper '77 in its third position, the wiper 78 and its then engaged contact, and the grounded left hand armature switch of relay 92 and its then engaged contact. When relay 7 is energized it establishes a locking circuit for itself that includes the grounded battery 9, the lowermost armature switch of relay 7, the winding of this relay, the side switch Wiper 77 in its third position, the wiper 78, and the grounded armature switch of relay 92 or. the alternate ground connection established by the lowermost armature switch of relay 98 when attracted, the relays of the equipment being placed under the control of the operator by the magnet 98* and the plug m when the plug is received in the jack so that there will be no faulty operation due to the release of the magnet 92 by the calling subscriber. lVhen relay 7 is operated its intermediate armature switches engage their alternate contacts and separate from their normal contacts whereby the calling line sides are' connected with the selected link connector B and the relay 6 is deenergized. When the relay 6 is deenergized circuit is established through the release magnet 80 and the previously closed off normal switch 81. The release magnet 80 thereupon restores the wipers of the operator selector switch to normal and in doing so the relay is is included in open circuit if the key e happens to remain depressed. Thus the phonographs. are cut out of circuit relation with the trunk operator and the calling subser'iber irrespective of the. position of the .key' 6.

' I 'dolnot consider it necessary to describe the remainder of the equipment illustrated and the'link B as such is so well known by thoseskilled in the art. The relay 93 of the link B is under the control of the calling subscriber. while the relay 93 is under the control of the called subscriber. \Vhen the parties are through conversation the calling subscribers supervisory signal 97 and the called subseribers supervisory signal 97 are included in closed circuit, the receivers at the connecting stations-having been replaced upon their switch hooks. When the operator withdraws the plug m ground previously established by the lowermost armature switch of relay 98 is removed from the wiper 78- whereby the circuits of relays S8 and T are opened. Circuit for the-release magnet 82 is thereupon established by the lowermost armature switch of relay 88 through the previously closed oil normal switch 82 and the lower armature switches of relays 38 and 91 whereby the wipers of the link selector switch A are restored to normal. When the relay 7 is included in open circuit the line equipment of the calling line is restored to normal and when the plug m is withdrawn the line equipment of the called line is restored to normal.

I do not deem it necessary to describe more in detail the construction and circuit arrangement of the operator selector switch and the link'selector switch A since the equipment illustrated will be familiar to those skilled in the art, particularly when reference is had to British Patent 1298 of 1910 and to Van De-venters "elephanolagy, page 530.

l have shown. at the lower portion of Fig. 2, an operator selector switch and a link selector switch A peculiar to line C and I have also illustrated another link connector 13 at the bottom of Fig. 3. Similar parts of these equipments are given similar characters of reference.

Attention is called to the relative location of the contact fingers projecting from the disk upon the shaft 29 which are so relatively located that the operations which they govern will occur in proper order and sequence. There need be but one shaft 29 with the disks thereon for an entire exchange, the brushes bearing upon the disk being common to similarly related'buttons of the groups 'C, D, E distributed among the receiving-operators.

It will be understood that the link connectors B may extend from receiving operators positions (the positions of A operators) to trunking operators positions (the positions of B operators) whether such positions are located in the same building or in different and widely separated buildings. It is considered that the lines extending to these operators positions extend to thesame exchange irrespective of the proximity or separation of the A and 13 operators positions.

I have hitherto devised a system wherein talking devices have been employed at an exchange for announcing the designations of callin line extensions and this prior invention orms the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 709,427, filed July 15, 1912. In this said application I have disclosed a telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to an exchange, link connectors at the exchange for uniting said lines, talking devices at the exchange having speech reproducing record portions for speaking line designations, and operator controlled means for interchangeably coupling the talking devices with the link connectors while said link connectors are free to be taken for use and operated in effecting connection between calling and called lines, and the claims in the said copending application are broadly and specifically drawn to cover the invention contained in that system.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction and circuit arrangement shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention. I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from telephone stations to diflerent operators positions at an exchange; telephone lines intervening between the operators positions; talking devices at the exchange having reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of telephone line extensions, which extensions are to be supplied to calling lines; and means for enabling said talking devices to impress telephone currents upon the telephone lines intervening between the operators ositions.

2. telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from telephone stations to receiving operators positions and from telephone stations to the positions of operators who take part in connecting calling and desired lines; telephone lines intervening between'the first aforesaid operators positions and the second aforesaid operators positions; talking devices at the exchange having reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of telephone line extensions, which extensions are to be supplied to the calling lines; and means governed by the receiving operators for en abling said talking devices to impress telephonic currents upon the telephone lines intervening between said operators positions.

3. A telephone exchange svstem including telephone lines extending from telephone stations to different operators positions at an exchange; link connectors intervening between the operators positions for inclusion in circuit between calling and desired lines and also constituting telephone lines intervening between the operators positions; talking devices at the exchange having reproducing'record portions for speaking the designations" of telephone line extensions, which extensions are to be supplied to calling lines; and means for enabling said talking devices to impress telephonic cur-,

ing and desired lines; link connectors inter-' vening between the operators positions for inclusion in circuit between calling and desired lines and also constituting telephone lines intervening between the operators positions; talking devices at the exchange having reproducing record portions for speakingthe designation of telephone line extensions, which extensions are to be supplied to the calling lines; and means governed by the receiving operators for enabling said talking devices to im ress telephonic currents upon the telep one lines intervening between said operators positions.

5; A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from telephone stations to difl'erent operators positions at an exchange; telephonelinesinte'rvening between the operators positions; talking devices at the exchange having reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of telephone line extensions, which extensions are to be supplied to calling lines; means for enabling said talking devices to impress telephonic currents upon the telephone lines intervening between the operators positions; and means at the operators positions between which telephone lines intervene for effecting connection between calling and desired lines.

6. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from telephone stations to receiving operators positions and from telephone stations to the positions of operators who take part in connecting calling anddesired lines; telephone lines intervening between the first aforesaid operators positions and the second aforesaid operators ositions; talking devices at the exchange iiaving reproducing record portions for speakin the designations of telephone line extensions, which extensions are to be supplied to the calling lines; means governed by the receiving operators for enabling said talking devices to impress telephonic currents upon the telephone lines intervening between said operators positions; and means at the operators ositions between which telephone lines intervene for effecting connection between calling and desired lines.

7. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from telephone stations to difierent operators positions at an exchange; telephone lines intervening between the operators ositions; a plurality of talking devices at e exchange having reproducing record portions for speaking differing portions of designations of telephone line extensions, which exten' sions are to be supplied to calling lines; and operator controlled means for enabling said talking devices succemively to impress telephonic currents upon the telephone lines intervening between the operators positions in arbitrarily determined order.

8. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from telephone stations to receiving operators positions and from telephone stations to the positihns of operators who take part in connecting calling and desired! lines; telephone lines intervening between the first aforesaid operators positions and the second aforesaid operators positions; a plurality of talking devices at the exchange having reproducing record portions for speaking differing portions of designations of telephone line extensions, which extensions are to be supplied to calling lines; and means governed by the receiving operators for enabling said talking devices successively to impress telephonic currents upon the telephone lines intervening between said operators positions in arbitrarily determined order. I

9. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from telephone stations to different operators positions at an exchange; link connectors intervening between the operators positions for inclusion in circuit between calling and desired Lines and also constituting telephone lines intervening between the operators positions a plurality of talking devices at the exchange having reproducing record portions fcr speaking differing portions of designations of telephone line extensions, which extensions are to be supplied to calling lines: and operator controlled means for enabling said talking devices successively to impress telephonic currents upon the telephone lines intervening between the operators positions in arbitrarily determined order.

10; A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from telephone stations to receiving operators positions and from telephone stations to the positions of operators who take part in connecting calling and desired lines; link connectors interveningbet'ween the operators positions for inclusion in circuit between calling and desired lines and also constituting telephone lines intervening between the operators positions; a the exchange having reproducing record portions for speaking differing portions of designations of telephone line extensions,

which extensions are to be supplied to calling lines; and means governed by the receiving operators for enablingsaid talking devices successively to impress telephonic plurality of talking devices at currents upon the telephone lines intervening between said operators positions in arbitrarily determined order.

11. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from telephone stations to dillerent operators positions "at an exchange: telephone lines intervening between the operators positions; a plurality of talking devices at the exchange having reproducing record portions for speaking differing portions of designations of telephone line extensions, which extensions are to be supplied to calling lines; operator controlled means for enabling said talking devices successively to impress telephonic currents upon the telephone lines intervening between the operators positions in arbitrarily determined order; and means at the operators positions between which telephone lines intervene for effecting con-- nection between callin and desired lines.

12. A telephone exdhange system including telephone lines extending frcm telephone stations to receiving operators positions and from telephone stations to the positions of operators who take part in connecting calling and desired lines; telephone lines intervening between the first aforesaid operators positions and the second atoresaid operators positions; a plurality of'talking devices at the exchange having reproducing record portions for speaking dilieringportions of designations of telephone line extensions, which. extensions are to be supplied to calling lines; means governed by the receiving operators for enabling said talking devices successively to impress telephonic currents upon the telephone lines intervening betw en said operators positions in arbitrarily determined order; and means at the operators positions between which telephone lines intervene for effecting connection between calling and desired lines.

13. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from telcphone stations to different operators positions at an exchange; telephone lines interveninu between the operators positions; a plurality of talking devices at the exchange aving records of differing import; and op erator controlled means for causing said talking devices to effect the impression of telephonic current upon the telephone lines intervening between operators positions in succession in arbitrarily determined order.

14. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from telephone stations to receiving operators posi'ticns and from telephone stations to the positions of operators who take part in connecting calling and desired lines; telephone lines-intervening between the first aforesaid operators positions and the second aforesaid cperators positions; a plurality of talking devices at the exchange having records of difiering import; and means controlled by the receiving operators for causing said talking devices to eflect the impression of telephonic current upon the telephone lines intervening between the operators positions in succession in arhitrarily determined order.

15. A telephone exchange system includ ing telephone lines extending from telephone stations to receiving operators positions and from telephone stations to the positions of operators who take part in connecting calling and desired lines; link connectors intervening between the operators positions for inclusion in circuit between calling and desired lines and also constituting telephone lines intervening between the operators positions; a plurality of talkin devices at the exchange having records 0 difi'ering import; and means controlled by the receiving operators for causing said talking devices to effect the impression of telephonic current upon the tele phone lines intervening between the operators positions in succession in arbitrarily determined order.

16. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from telephone stations to receiving operators positions and from telephone stations to the positions of operators who take part in connecting calling and desired lines; telephone lines intervening between the first aforesaid operators positions and the second aforesaid operators positions; a plurality of talking devices at the exchange having records of differing import; means controlled by the receiving operators for causing said talking devices to effect the impression of telephonic current upon the telephone lines intervening between the operators positions in suecessicn in arbitrarily determined order; and means at the operators positions between which telephone lines intervene for eiiecting connection between calling and desired lines.

17. A telephone exchange system includ ing telephone lines extending from telephone stations to receiving and-connecting operators positions at an exchange; and talking devices having reproducing .record portions for speaking the designations of telephone line extensions that are to be supplied to calling lines and which talking devices are within the control of the receiving operators and are provided with means for telephonic connection with connecting operators.

18. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; a link connector intervening between these positions; and talking equipment, coupled with the link connector, having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators.

19. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions link connectors intervening between these positions; and talking devices having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators there being means for coupling employed link eonnectors with the talking devices used to speak the designations of calling line extensions.

20. A telephone exchange system includ ing telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; link connectors intervening between these positions; and talking devices having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; there being means controlled by the receiving operators, for coupling employed link connectors with the talking devices used to speak the designations of calling line extensions.

21. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; a link connector intervening between these positions; and talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions coupled with the link connector and prepared by the receiving operator for speaking thedesignations of calling line extensions to switching operators.

22. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; link connectors intervening between these positions; and talking devices hav1ng speech reproducing record portions and prepared by the receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators, there being means for coupling employed link connectors with the talking devices used to speak the designations of calling line extensions.

23. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; link connectors intervening. between these positions; and talking devices having speech reproducing record portions and prepared by the receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators, there being means controlled by the receiving operators for coupling employed link connectors with the talking devices used to speak the designations of calling line extensions.

24. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receivspeaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means controlled by the receiving operators for interchangeably coupling the talking devices and link connectors.

26. A telephone exchange system includ ing telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; link connectors intervening between these positions; talking devices hav ing speech reproducing record portions and prepared by the receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means for interchangeably coupling the talking devices and link connectors.

' 27. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; link connectors intervening between these positions; talking devices having speech reproducing record portions and prepared by the receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means controlled by the receiving operators for interchangeably coupling the talking devices and link connectors.

28. A' telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions at which are located link connectors for connecting calling and called lines; and talking equipment; coupled with the link connector connected with the calling line at the receiving operators position, and having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of call ing line extensions to switching operators.

29. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions at which are located link connectors for connecting calling and called lines; talking devices having speech reproducing record portions for speaking to the switching operators the designations of calling line extensions; and means for interchangeably coupling the talking devices and link cannectorsconnected with callinglines at receiving operators positions.

30. A telephone exchan e system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions at which are located link connectors for connecting calling and called lines; talking devices having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means controlled by the receiving operators for interchangeably coupling the talking devices and link connectors connected with calling lines at the receiving operators positions.

31. A, telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions at which are located link connectors for connecting calling and called lines; talking devices having speech reproducing record portions and prepared by the receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switchin oper' tors; and means for interchangeabfy coupling the talking devices and link connectors connected with calling lines at receiving operators positions.

32. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiv ing and switching or connecting operators positions at which are located link connectors for connecting calling and called lines; talking devices having speech reproducing record portions and prepared by the receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means controlled by the receiving operators for interchangeably coupling the talking devices and link connectors connected with calling lines at receiving operators positions.

33. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; a link connector intervening between these pcsiticns; and talking equipment, having speech reproducing record portions telephonically coupled with the link connector, for speaking the designations of calling line extensions.

34. A telephone exchange system includ ing telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; link connectors intervening between these positions; and talking devices having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions, there being means for interchangeably and telephonically coupling link connectors with the talking devices used to speak the designations of calling line extensions.

35. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means governed by a receiving operator for bringing the speech reproducing portion of said equipment interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators positions.

36. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiv ing and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means governed by a receiving operator for bringing the speech reproducing portion of said equipment interchangeably into connection'with the switching or connecting operators telephone equipments.

37. A telephone exchange system includ-' ing telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions and prepared by receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means governed b a receiving operator for bringing the speech reproducing portion of said equipment interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators positions.

38. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connectin operators telephone equipments; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions and prepared by receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means governed by a receiving operator for bringing the speech reproducing portion of said equipment interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators telephone equipments.

- 39. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and link connectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connecting operators positions by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the selected switching operator.

40. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; tall-ring equipment having speech reproducing record portions and prepared by receiving operatorsfor speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and link connectorsfor extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connecting operators positions by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the selected switchin operator.

41. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments, talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking-the designations of callin line extensions to switching operators; and link connectors for extending cal-ling lines and interchangeably associated with switching or connecting operators telephone equipments by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the tele phone of the selected switching operator.

42. A telephone exchange system includ-- ing telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions and prepared by receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and link connectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connecting operators telephone equipments by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the telephone of the selected switching operator.

43. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators; talking equipment having speech reproducing record ortions for speaking the designations of cal ing line extensions to switching operators; and means governed by a receiving operatorfor bringing the speech reproducing portion of said equipment interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators positions.

44. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments and divided into groups for accessibility by the switching operators; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means governed h a receiving operator for bringing the speec reproducin portion of-said equipment interchangeably into connection with the switching or connectingoperators telephone equipments.

45. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for access sibility by the latter operators; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions and pre ared by receiving operators for speaking tlie designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; andwneans governed by a receiving operator for bringing the speech reproducing portion of said equipment interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators positions.

46. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call re ceiving and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments and divided into groups for accessibility by the switching operators; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions and pre- 1 pared by receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means governed by a receiving operator for bringing the speech reproducing portion of said equipment interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators telephone equipments.

47. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and link connectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connecting operators positions by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the selected switching operator.

48. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for acccssibility by the latter operators; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions and prepared by receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and link connectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connecting operators positions by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the selected switching operator.

49. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments and divided into groups for accessibility by the switching operators; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and link connectors for extending calling lines-and interchangeably associated with switching or connecting pperators telephone equipments by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the telephone of the selected switching operator.

50. A telephone exchange system includ-- ing telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments and divided into groups for accessibility by the switching operators; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions and prepared by receiving operators for speaking the dos ignations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and link connectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably asscciated with the switching or connecting operators telephone equipments by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the telephone of the selected switching operator.

51. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switchin or connecting operators position and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators, there being a plurality of switching operators positions for each group of telephone lines; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means governed by a receiving operator for bringing the speech reproduo ing portion of said equipment interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators positions; said means including selector switches for selecting an idle operator in the group of positions containing wanted lines.

52. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments and divided into groups for accessibility by the switching operators, there being a plurality of switching operators telephone equipments for each group of telephone lines; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means governed by a receiving operator for bringing the speech reproducing portion of said equipment interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators telephone equipments, said means including selector switches for selecting an idle operator in the group of telephone equipments containing wanted lines.

53. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for ac cessibility by the latter operators, there being a plurality of switching operators positions for each group of telephone lines; talking equipment having speech reproducw ing record portions and prepared by receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means governed by a receiving operator for bringing the speech reproducing portion of said equipment interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators positions, said means including selector switches for selecting an idle operator in the group of positions containing wanted lines.

54.. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments and divided -'into groups for accessibility by the switching operators, there being a plurality of switching operators telephone equipments for each group of telephone lines; talking equipment having speech reproducing record'portions and prepared by receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; and means governed by a receiving operator for bringing the speech reproducing portion of said equipment -interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators telephone equipments, said means including selector switches for selecting an idle operator in the group of telephone equipments containing wanted lines.

A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators, there being a plurality of switching operators positions for each group of telephone lines; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching opera tors; link connectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connecting operators positions by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the selected switching operator; and selector switches for selecting an idle operator in the group of positions having access to wanted lines.

56. A telephone exchange system includ-.

ing record portions and prepared by reoeiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line'extensions to switching operators; link connectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connecting operators ositions by a receiving operator and servmg to convey the record reproductions to the selected switching operator; and selector switches for selecting an idle operator in the group of positions having access to' wanted lines.

57. A. telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments and divided into groups for accessibility by the switching operators, there being a plurality of switching operators telephone equipments for each group of telephone lines; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; link connectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with switching or connecting operators telephone equipments by a receiving operator and serving toconvey the record reproductions to the telephone of the selected switching operator; and selector switches for selecting an idle operator in the group of telephone equipments having access to wanted lines.

58. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments and divided into groups for accessibility by the switching operators, there being a plurality of switching operators telephone equipments for each group of telephone lines; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions and prepared by receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; link connectors .for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connecting operators telephone equipments by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the telephone of the selected switching operator; and selector switches for 'selecting'an idle operator in the group of telephone equipments having access to wanted lines.

59. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators, there being a lurality of switching operators positions or each group of telephone lines; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; link connectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connecting operators positions by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the selected switching operator; link connectors at the switchin g or connecting operators positions for connecting desired lines with calling lines; and selector switches for selecting idle ones of the latter link connectors and connecting the same with the former link connectors.

('10. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators, there being a plurality of switching operators positions for each group of telephone lines; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions and prepared by receiving operators for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; link connectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connecting operators positions by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the selected switching operator; link connectors at the switching or connecting operators positions for connecting desired lines with calling lines; and selector switches for selecting idle ones of the latter link connectors and connecting the same with the former link connectors.

61. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments and divided into groups for accessibility by the switching operators, there being a plurality of switching operators telephone equipments for each group of telephone lines; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions for speaking the designations of calling line extensions to switching operators; link connectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with switching or coimecting operators telephone equipments by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the telephone of the selected switching operator link connectors at the switching or connecting operators telephone equipments for connecting desired lines with calling lines; and se lector switches for selecting idle ones of the latter link connectors and connecting the same with the former link connectors.

62. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators telephone equipments and divided into groups for accessibility by the switching operators; there being a plurality of switching operators telephone equipments for each group of telephone lines; talking equipment having speech reproducing record portions tensions to switching operators; link con-- nectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connecting operators telephone equipments by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the telephone of the selected switching operator; l nk connectors at the switching or connecting operators telephone equipments for connecting desired lines with calling lines; and selector switches for selecting idle ones of the latter link connectors and connecting the same with the former link connectors.

63. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to switching or connecting operators positions; talking devices having speech reproducing record portions for reproducing the designations of wanted lines; telephone conductors intervening between said devices and the switching operators positions; and selector switching mechanism for connecting the speech reproducing portions of said talking devices with said telephone conductors.

64. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to switching or connecting operators positions; talking devices having speech reproducing record portions prepared by receiving operators for reproducing the designations of wanted lines; telephone conductors intervening between said devices and the switching operators positions; and selector switching mechanism for connecting the speech reproducing portions of said talking devices with said telephone conductors.

65. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to receiving and switching or connecting operators positions; link connectors intervening between receiving and switching opera-tors positions and interchangeably associated with the latter positions by a receiving operator; and talking devices having speech reproducing record portions and provided with means for coupling said reproducing record portions with the link connectors for transferring recorded speech by the link connectors to selected switching operators.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this third day of August A. 1).,

MORTON L. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

G. L. CRAGG, E. L. WHITE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressin the Commissioner of ratentl, Washington, D. G. 

